A Father's Education

3/5/10
Hey Dads,
In many ways being a father is just one big learning experience. We never stop learning, about our kids, about ourselves, about how to be a better father. What I have found most challenging as a father so far is letting go of all the worries and day-to-day stuff and just sitting down and having fun with Ian. I truly do enjoy playing with him, his imagination is amazing, and sometimes I think even better then mine was when I was a child. He also loves to play his “guitar”, it’s an ukulele, while I play my guitar. It usually turns into us playing each others, but it is a lot of fun. Again though this is something that I should be doing every single day and I don’t, because there are so many other things in my life that require my attention.
At least that is what I tell myself, in order to justify not spending time with him. However over the last month I have been in the unique position of being around a little bit more and seeing just how much I was missing with my constant worry, and in all truth, mentally hiding from him. He is an amazing boy, who has a personality that I never fully realized or acknowledged. He is smart and knows when I am frustrated, or just not having a good day, and he will seek me out and ask me if I am feeling a certain way. This new understanding of my child, as well as what I was keeping myself from seeing in him, has been a huge learning experience, one that has changed my view on the role of provider. I am a father, and in my mind there is not greater gift or treasure. I know that I am going to spend the rest of my life learning how to be a father, but I have learned it is the one aspect of my life that I am going to do to the best of my ability.

A Fellow Father